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Desalegn AA, van der Ent W, Lenters V, Iszatt N, Stigum H, Lyche JL, Berg V, Kirstein-Smardzewska KJ, Esguerra CV, Eggesbø M. Perinatal exposure to potential endocrine disrupting chemicals and autism spectrum disorder: From Norwegian birth cohort to zebrafish studies. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2023; 181:108271. [PMID: 37879205 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2023.108271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2023] [Revised: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The etiology of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is multifactorial, involving genetic and environmental contributors such as endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs). OBJECTIVE To evaluate the association between perinatal exposure to 27 potential EDCs and ASD among Norwegian children, and to further examine the neurodevelopmental toxicity of associated chemicals using zebrafish embryos and larvae. METHOD 1,199 mothers enrolled in the prospective birth-cohort (HUMIS, 2002-2009) study. Breastmilk levels of 27 chemicals were measured: polychlorinated biphenyls, organochlorine pesticides, polybrominated diphenyl ethers, and perfluoroalkyl substances as a proxy for perinatal exposure. We employed multivariable logistic regression to determine association, utilized elastic net logistic regression as variable selection method, and conducted an in vivo study with zebrafish larvae to confirm the neurodevelopmental effect. RESULTS A total of 20 children had specialist confirmed diagnosis of autism among 1,199 mother-child pairs in this study. β-Hexachlorocyclohexane (β-HCH) was the only chemical associated with ASD, after adjusting for 26 other chemicals. Mothers with the highest levels of β-HCH in their milk had a significant increased risk of having a child with ASD (OR = 1.82, 95 % CI: 1.20, 2.77 for an interquartile range increase in ln-transformed β-HCH concentration). The median concentration of β-HCH in breast milk was 4.37 ng/g lipid (interquartile range: 2.92-6.47), and the estimated daily intake (EDI) for Norwegian children through breastfeeding was 0.03 µg/kg of body weight. The neurodevelopmental and social behavioral effects of β-HCH were established in zebrafish embryos and larvae across various concentrations, with further analysis suggesting that perturbation of dopaminergic neuron development may underlie the neurotoxicity associated with β-HCH. CONCLUSIONS Prenatal exposure to β-HCH was associated with an increased risk of specialist-confirmed diagnoses of ASD among Norwegian children, and the EDI surpasses the established threshold. Zebrafish experiments confirm β-HCH neurotoxicity, suggesting dopaminergic neuron disruption as a potential underlying mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anteneh Assefa Desalegn
- Division of Climate and Environmental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, 0456, Oslo, Norway; Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety Research Group, Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Wietske van der Ent
- Chemical Neuroscience Group, Centre for Molecular Medicine Norway (NCMM), Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Virissa Lenters
- Division of Climate and Environmental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, 0456, Oslo, Norway
| | - Nina Iszatt
- Division of Climate and Environmental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, 0456, Oslo, Norway
| | - Hein Stigum
- Department of Non-Communicable Diseases, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Jan Ludvig Lyche
- Department of Paraclinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, P.O. Box 369 Sentrum, NO-0102, Oslo, Norway
| | - Vidar Berg
- Department of Paraclinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, P.O. Box 369 Sentrum, NO-0102, Oslo, Norway
| | - Karolina J Kirstein-Smardzewska
- Chemical Neuroscience Group, Centre for Molecular Medicine Norway (NCMM), Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Camila Vicencio Esguerra
- Chemical Neuroscience Group, Centre for Molecular Medicine Norway (NCMM), Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Section for Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Merete Eggesbø
- Division of Climate and Environmental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, 0456, Oslo, Norway; Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, NO-7491 Trondheim, Norway; Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, University Hospital of North Norway, Tromsø, Norway.
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Płotka-Wasylka J, Mulkiewicz E, Lis H, Godlewska K, Kurowska-Susdorf A, Sajid M, Lambropoulou D, Jatkowska N. Endocrine disrupting compounds in the baby's world - A harmful environment to the health of babies. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 881:163350. [PMID: 37023800 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.163350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2023] [Revised: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Globally, there has been a significant increase in awareness of the adverse effects of chemicals with known or suspected endocrine-acting properties on human health. Human exposure to endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) mainly occurs by ingestion and to some extent by inhalation and dermal uptake. Although it is difficult to assess the full impact of human exposure to EDCs, it is well known that timing of exposure is of importance and therefore infants are more vulnerable to EDCs and are at greater risk compared to adults. In this regard, infant safety and assessment of associations between prenatal exposure to EDCs and growth during infancy and childhood has been received considerable attention in the last years. Hence, the purpose of this review is to provide a current update on the evidence from biomonitoring studies on the exposure of infants to EDCs and a comprehensive view of the uptake, the mechanisms of action and biotransformation in baby/human body. Analytical methods used and concentration levels of EDCs in different biological matrices (e.g., placenta, cord plasma, amniotic fluid, breast milk, urine, and blood of pregnant women) are also discussed. Finally, key issues and recommendations were provided to avoid hazardous exposure to these chemicals, taking into account family and lifestyle factors related to this exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justyna Płotka-Wasylka
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Gdańsk University of Technology, 11/12 G. Narutowicza St., 80-233 Gdańsk, Poland; BioTechMed Center, Gdańsk University of Technology, 11/12 G. Narutowicza St., 80-233 Gdańsk, Poland.
| | - Ewa Mulkiewicz
- Department of Environmental Analysis, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Gdańsk, 63 Wita Stwosza Street, 80-308 Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Hanna Lis
- Department of Environmental Analysis, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Gdańsk, 63 Wita Stwosza Street, 80-308 Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Klaudia Godlewska
- Department of Environmental Analysis, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Gdańsk, 63 Wita Stwosza Street, 80-308 Gdańsk, Poland
| | | | - Muhammad Sajid
- Applied Research Center for Environment and Marine Studies, Research Institute, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia
| | - Dimitra Lambropoulou
- Department of Chemistry, Environmental Pollution Control Laboratory, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece; Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Innovation (CIRI-AUTH), Balkan Center, Thessaloniki GR-57001, Greece
| | - Natalia Jatkowska
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Gdańsk University of Technology, 11/12 G. Narutowicza St., 80-233 Gdańsk, Poland.
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3
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Dwivedi N, Mahdi AA, Deo S. Assessment of endocrine disrupting chemicals in breast milk: Association with dietary habits and duration of lactation. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 221:115216. [PMID: 36608766 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.115216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2022] [Revised: 12/28/2022] [Accepted: 01/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The present study was aimed to assess infant safety associated with the presence of persistent organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in breast milk, a possible route of transfer of endocrine-disrupting chemicals to newborns in North India. Colostrum and breast milk samples (n = 130) were collected at different stages of lactation. Pesticides analysis was performed using gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS). We observed that of all the samples analysed, OCPs concentration was higher in breast milk than in colostrum, suggesting pesticides contamination increases over lactation period. As far as OCPs are concerned, dieldrin [1196.64 ± 673.75 ng/g lipid weight (lw)], and β-HCH [1107.78 ± 1301.72 ng/g lw], were the predominant OCPs, followed by aldrin [977.09 ± 707.69 ng/g lw], α-HCH [948.04 ± 476.65 ng/g lw] and 1,1'-(2,2-Dichloroethene-1,1-diyl)bis(4-chlorobenzene) (p,p'DDE) [790.11 ± 399.35 ng/g lw]. The association between OCPs levels and women dietary habits were also explored, and all the OCPs were grouped and compared to each other by consumption level of fish, meat, sea foods, eggs, and dairy products. We found that women consuming non vegetarian food, like fish and meat, were exposed 3.5 times more to OCPs than women consuming vegetarian food. In addition, we also observed that factors like mother's age was positively (<0.005 - <0.001) correlated while gestational age and infant birth weight were negatively (<0.005) associated with the levels of OCPs in colostrum and breast milk, respectively. Unfortunately, neither any standards nor guidelines are available for the use of pesticides, therefore, it is suggested that careless use of OCPs should be checked and suitable remedial measures be taken to decrease human contamination. Moreover, further studies are warranted to elucidate relationship between pesticide residues in breast milk and the maternal and child health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naina Dwivedi
- Department of Biochemistry, King George's Medical University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Abbas Ali Mahdi
- Department of Biochemistry, King George's Medical University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.
| | - Sujata Deo
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, King George's Medical University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India
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Kapraun DF, Zurlinden TJ, Verner MA, Chiang C, Dzierlenga MW, Carlson LM, Schlosser PM, Lehmann GM. A Generic Pharmacokinetic Model for Quantifying Mother-to-Offspring Transfer of Lipophilic Persistent Environmental Chemicals. Toxicol Sci 2022; 189:155-174. [PMID: 35951756 PMCID: PMC9713949 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfac084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Lipophilic persistent environmental chemicals (LPECs) can accumulate in a woman's body and transfer to her developing child across the placenta and via breast milk. To assess health risks associated with developmental exposures to LPECs, we developed a pharmacokinetic (PK) model that quantifies mother-to-offspring transfer of LPECs during pregnancy and lactation and facilitates internal dosimetry calculations for offspring. We parameterized the model for mice, rats, and humans using time-varying functions for body mass and milk consumption rates. The only required substance-specific parameter is the elimination half-life of the LPEC in the animal species of interest. We used the model to estimate whole-body concentrations in mothers and offspring following maternal exposures to hexachlorobenzene (HCB) and 2,2',4,4',5,5'-hexachlorobiphenyl (PCB 153) and compared these with measured concentrations from animal studies. We also compared estimated concentrations for humans to those generated using a previously published human LPEC PK model. Finally, we compared human equivalent doses (HEDs) calculated using our model and an allometric scaling method. Estimated and observed whole-body concentrations of HCB and PCB 153 in offspring followed similar trends and differed by less than 60%. Simulations of human exposure yielded concentration estimates comparable to those generated using the previously published model, with concentrations in offspring differing by less than 12%. HEDs calculated using our PK model were about 2 orders of magnitude lower than those generated using allometric scaling. Our PK model can be used to calculate internal dose metrics for offspring and corresponding HEDs and thus informs assessment of developmental toxicity risks associated with LPECs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dustin F. Kapraun
- Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709, USA
| | - Todd J. Zurlinden
- Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709, USA
| | - Marc-André Verner
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec H3T 1A8, Canada
- Centre de Recherche en Santé Publique, Université de Montréal and CIUSSS Du Centre-Sud-de-l’île-de-Montréal, Montreal, Quebec H3N 1X7, Canada
| | - Catheryne Chiang
- Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709, USA
| | - Michael W. Dzierlenga
- Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709, USA
| | - Laura M. Carlson
- Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709, USA
| | - Paul M. Schlosser
- Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709, USA
| | - Geniece M. Lehmann
- Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709, USA
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Komprdová K, Domínguez-Romero E, Sharma BM, Komprda J, Melymuk L, Murínová ĽP, Čonka K, Trnovec T, Černá M, Drobná B, Fabišiková A, Sejáková ZS, Scheringer M. Application of a pharmacokinetic model in characterizing sources of polychlorinated biphenyl exposure and determining threshold daily intakes for adverse health effects in infants and toddlers. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 830:154734. [PMID: 35337869 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.154734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2021] [Revised: 02/27/2022] [Accepted: 03/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Characterization of PCB exposure sources for vulnerable population groups is essential to minimize the health effects of PCB exposure. At the same time, it is important to consolidate the knowledge on threshold intakes of PCBs for infants and toddlers to prevent health effects. We estimated total PCB concentrations from birth to 2 years of age in children from Slovak and Czech populations, which continue to have high PCB concentrations in breast milk. Using a pharmacokinetic (PK) model, we characterized dominant PCB exposure sources and estimated new threshold estimated daily intakes (TEDI) (above which adverse effects cannot be excluded) for postnatal PCB exposure in infants and toddlers. In the PK model, concentrations of seven indicator PCBs in breast milk and cord blood samples from 291 mother-child pairs from the Slovak birth cohort, and 396 breast milk samples from Czech mothers we used, together with their physiological characteristics and PCB concentrations from other exposure sources (food, dust, air). The estimated total PCB concentrations in children's blood at different ages were compared with threshold PCB concentrations of 500, 700 and 1000 ng·glipid-1 in serum proposed by the French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES) and the German Environment Agency (UBA), above which possible adverse health effects may be expected. We estimated that up to 20.6% of Slovak children and up to 45.7% of Czech children at two years of age exceeded the threshold value of 700 ng·glipid-1 in blood. Mean TEDIs leading to values of 500 ng·glipid-1 in blood for children up to two years ranged between 110 and 220 ng·kg-1·bw·day-1, varying according to breastfeeding duration. Breast milk and prenatal exposure contributed to 71%-85% of PCBs exposure at two years of age. In contrast, the contributions of PCBs from dust and indoor air were negligible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Klára Komprdová
- RECETOX, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlarska 2, Brno, Czech Republic.
| | | | - Brij Mohan Sharma
- RECETOX, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlarska 2, Brno, Czech Republic.
| | - Jiří Komprda
- RECETOX, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlarska 2, Brno, Czech Republic.
| | - Lisa Melymuk
- RECETOX, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlarska 2, Brno, Czech Republic.
| | - Ľubica Palkovičová Murínová
- Department of Environmental Medicine, Faculty of Public Health, Slovak Medical University, Limbová 12, 83303 Bratislava, Slovakia.
| | - Kamil Čonka
- Department of Toxic Organic Pollutants, Faculty of Medicine, Slovak Medical University, Limbová 12, 833 03 Bratislava, Slovakia.
| | - Tomáš Trnovec
- Department of Environmental Medicine, Faculty of Public Health, Slovak Medical University, Limbová 12, 83303 Bratislava, Slovakia.
| | - Milena Černá
- National Institute of Public Health, Prague, Czech Republic.
| | - Beata Drobná
- Department of Toxic Organic Pollutants, Faculty of Medicine, Slovak Medical University, Limbová 12, 833 03 Bratislava, Slovakia.
| | - Anna Fabišiková
- Department of Toxic Organic Pollutants, Faculty of Medicine, Slovak Medical University, Limbová 12, 833 03 Bratislava, Slovakia.
| | - Zuzana Stachová Sejáková
- Department of Toxic Organic Pollutants, Faculty of Medicine, Slovak Medical University, Limbová 12, 833 03 Bratislava, Slovakia.
| | - Martin Scheringer
- RECETOX, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlarska 2, Brno, Czech Republic.
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Hu L, Luo D, Wang L, Yu M, Zhao S, Wang Y, Mei S, Zhang G. Levels and profiles of persistent organic pollutants in breast milk in China and their potential health risks to breastfed infants: A review. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 753:142028. [PMID: 32906049 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.142028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2020] [Revised: 08/25/2020] [Accepted: 08/26/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Although some persistent organic pollutants (POPs) were prohibited or limited in use several decades ago, they are still frequently detected in the human body. The purpose of this study was to understand the levels and profiles of POPs in breast milk in China and assess their potential health risks among breastfed infants under six months of age. A literature review focused on China was performed for studies published from 2001 to 2020. The POP levels in breast milk along with other important variables were extracted, and then the average individual POP levels in breast milk were estimated. This review summarises the distribution of traditional and new POPs, including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), legacy brominated flame retardants (BFRs), perfluorinated compounds (PFCs), and chlorinated paraffins (CPs) and reported notably high levels of short-chain chlorinated paraffins and 1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis (p-chlorophenyl) ethylene (p,p'-DDE) in breast milk. Although the levels of traditional POPs generally declined over time, especially p,p'-DDE and beta-hexachlorocyclohexane (β-HCH), women living in coastal areas, urban areas, and southern China still have a high body burden of certain POPs. In the present study, the estimated daily intake (EDI) of POPs through breastfeeding was used to evaluate the health risk for infants by comparing with acceptable levels. The findings suggested that infants born in coastal areas most likely suffered potential health risk from exposure to DDT, and the health risk of hexachlorobenzene (HCB) in infants in most nationwide regions remains a concern. More importantly, the EDI of PCBs for infants exceeds the safe limit on a national scale. Continuous surveillance of PCBs in breast milk is critical to evaluate the potential health effects on humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liqin Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Environment Health (Incubation), Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Environment and Health (Wuhan), Ministry of Environmental Protection, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, #13 Hangkong Road, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China
| | - Dan Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Environment Health (Incubation), Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Environment and Health (Wuhan), Ministry of Environmental Protection, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, #13 Hangkong Road, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China
| | - Limei Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Environment Health (Incubation), Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Environment and Health (Wuhan), Ministry of Environmental Protection, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, #13 Hangkong Road, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China
| | - Meng Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Environment Health (Incubation), Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Environment and Health (Wuhan), Ministry of Environmental Protection, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, #13 Hangkong Road, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China
| | - Shizhen Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China
| | - Youjie Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Environment Health (Incubation), Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Environment and Health (Wuhan), Ministry of Environmental Protection, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, #13 Hangkong Road, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China; Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Surong Mei
- State Key Laboratory of Environment Health (Incubation), Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Environment and Health (Wuhan), Ministry of Environmental Protection, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, #13 Hangkong Road, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China.
| | - Gan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China.
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Casadó L, Arrebola JP, Fontalba A, Muñoz A. Adverse effects of hexaclorobenzene exposure in children and adolescents. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2019; 176:108421. [PMID: 31387069 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2019.03.059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2018] [Revised: 03/22/2019] [Accepted: 03/23/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hexachlorobenzene (HCB: C₆Cl₆) is a persistent, bioaccumulative chemical formerly used worldwide in pesticide mixtures but also produced as a by-product in the chemical and metallurgical industry. Despite current international restrictions in the use and production of HCB, the majority of the general population still show detectable levels of HCB, which raises concerns on the potential health implications of the exposure. OBJECTIVE To compile and synthesize the available scientific evidence regarding the adverse effects of exposure to HCB in children and adolescents. METHODS A review of the literature focused on the adverse effects of HCB exposure in children. Eligible studies were systematically screened from searches in Medline, Scopus and Ebsco-host databases. A total of 62 studies were finally included. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION In our search we found evidences of potential health effects linked to HCB exposure at different levels (e.g. neurotoxic, nephrotoxic, immunotoxic, hepatotoxic and toxicogenomic), although the conclusions are still contradictory. Further prospective research is needed, considering the special vulnerability of children and adolescent population as well as the ubiquity of the exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lina Casadó
- Department of Nursing, Medical Anthropology Research Centre (MARC), University Rovira i Virgili, Tarragona, Spain.
| | - Juan Pedro Arrebola
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, University of Granada, Granada, Spain, Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria de Granada (ibs.GRANADA), Hospitales Universitarios de Granada, Spain, CIBER de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Spain.
| | - Andrés Fontalba
- Northern Málaga Integrated Healthcare Area, Andalusian Health Service, Antequera, Spain, Department of Nursing, Medicine and Physiotherapy, Almeria University, Almería, Spain
| | - Araceli Muñoz
- School of Social Work, Food Observatory (ODELA), University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain, Medical Anthropology Research Centre (MARC), University Rovira i Virgili, Tarragona, Spain
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Miret NV, Pontillo CA, Zárate LV, Kleiman de Pisarev D, Cocca C, Randi AS. Impact of endocrine disruptor hexachlorobenzene on the mammary gland and breast cancer: The story thus far. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2019; 173:330-341. [PMID: 30951959 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2019.03.054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2018] [Revised: 02/19/2019] [Accepted: 03/21/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Breast cancer incidence is increasing globally and exposure to endocrine disruptors has gained importance as a potential risk factor. Hexachlorobenzene (HCB) was once used as a fungicide and, despite being banned, considerable amounts are still released into the environment. HCB acts as an endocrine disruptor in thyroid, uterus and mammary gland and was classified as possibly carcinogenic to human. This review provides a thorough analysis of results obtained in the last 15 years of research and evaluates data from assays in mammary gland and breast cancer in diverse animal models. We discuss the effects of environmentally relevant HCB concentrations on the normal mammary gland and different stages of carcinogenesis, and attempt to elucidate its mechanisms of action at molecular level. HCB weakly binds to the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), activating both membrane (c-Src) and nuclear pathways. Through c-Src stimulation, AhR signaling interacts with other membrane receptors including estrogen receptor-α, insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor, epidermal growth factor receptor and transforming growth factor beta 1 receptors. In this way, several pathways involved in mammary morphogenesis and breast cancer development are modified, inducing tumor progression. HCB thus stimulates epithelial cell proliferation, preneoplastic lesions and alterations in mammary gland development as well as neoplastic cell migration and invasion, metastasis and angiogenesis in breast cancer. In conclusion, our findings support the hypothesis that the presence and bioaccumulation of HCB in high-fat tissues and during highly sensitive time windows such as pregnancy, childhood and adolescence make exposure a risk factor for breast tumor development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noelia V Miret
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Medicina, Departamento de Bioquímica Humana, Laboratorio de Efectos Biológicos de Contaminantes Ambientales, Paraguay 2155, 5to piso, CP1121, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
| | - Carolina A Pontillo
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Medicina, Departamento de Bioquímica Humana, Laboratorio de Efectos Biológicos de Contaminantes Ambientales, Paraguay 2155, 5to piso, CP1121, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
| | - Lorena V Zárate
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Medicina, Departamento de Bioquímica Humana, Laboratorio de Efectos Biológicos de Contaminantes Ambientales, Paraguay 2155, 5to piso, CP1121, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
| | - Diana Kleiman de Pisarev
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Medicina, Departamento de Bioquímica Humana, Laboratorio de Efectos Biológicos de Contaminantes Ambientales, Paraguay 2155, 5to piso, CP1121, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
| | - Claudia Cocca
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Laboratorio de Radioisótopos, Junín 954, subsuelo, CP1113, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
| | - Andrea S Randi
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Medicina, Departamento de Bioquímica Humana, Laboratorio de Efectos Biológicos de Contaminantes Ambientales, Paraguay 2155, 5to piso, CP1121, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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9
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Forns J, Stigum H, Høyer BB, Sioen I, Sovcikova E, Nowack N, Lopez-Espinosa MJ, Guxens M, Ibarluzea J, Torrent M, Wittsiepe J, Govarts E, Trnovec T, Chevrier C, Toft G, Vrijheid M, Iszatt N, Eggesbø M. Prenatal and postnatal exposure to persistent organic pollutants and attention-deficit and hyperactivity disorder: a pooled analysis of seven European birth cohort studies. Int J Epidemiol 2019; 47:1082-1097. [PMID: 29912347 DOI: 10.1093/ije/dyy052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2018] [Accepted: 03/27/2018] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is increasing worldwide for reasons largely unknown and environmental chemicals with neurotoxic properties, such as persistent organic pollutants (POPs), have been proposed to play a role. We investigated the association between prenatal and postnatal exposure to polychlorinated biphenyl-153 (PCB-153), p-p´-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (p-p'-DDE) and hexachlorobenzene (HCB) and ADHD in childhood. Methods We pooled seven European birth cohort studies encompassing 4437 mother-child pairs from the general population with concentrations of PCB-153, p-p´-DDE and HCB measured in cord blood, maternal blood or milk. We then calculated prenatal (birth) and postnatal (3, 6, 12 and 24 months) POP concentrations using a pharmacokinetic model. The operational definition of ADHD varied across cohorts and ranged from doctor diagnosis obtained from patient registries to maternal or teachers reports. We used multilevel (mixed) logistic regression models to estimate the associations between exposure to POPs at birth, 3, 6, 12 and 24 months and ADHD. Results The global prevalence of ADHD in our study was 6%. The mean age at assessment of ADHD was 5.8 years (range: 3.8-9.5 years). We found no association between exposure to PCB-153, p-p´-DDE and HCB at any age point between birth and 24 months and ADHD, in the pooled analyses (pooled odds ratios ranging from 1.00 to 1.01). A number of sensitivity analyses gave basically the same results. Conclusions In the largest study to date of 4437 children in seven European birth cohorts, we did not observe any association between either pre- or postnatal exposure (up to 24 months) to PCB-153, p-p´-DDE and HCB and the risk of ADHD before the age of 10 years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joan Forns
- Department of Environmental Exposure and Epidemiology, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Hein Stigum
- Department of Non-Communicable Diseases, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Birgit Bjerre Høyer
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Bispebjerg University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Isabelle Sioen
- Department of Food Technology, Safety and Health, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Eva Sovcikova
- Department of Environmental Medicine, Faculty of Public Health, Slovak Medical University, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
| | - Nikola Nowack
- Department of Developmental Psychology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Maria-Jose Lopez-Espinosa
- Epidemiology and Environmental Health Joint Research Unit, FISABIO-Universitat Jaume I-Universitat de Valencia, Valencia, Spain.,Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Mònica Guxens
- Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Barcelona, Spain.,ISGlobal, Center for Research in Environmental Epidemiology, Barcelona, Spain.,Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona, Spain.,Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychology, Erasmus University Medical Centre-Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Jesús Ibarluzea
- Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Barcelona, Spain.,Sub-Directorate for Public Health of Gipuzkoa, Department of Health of the Basque Country, San Sebastián, Spain.,BIODONOSTIA Health Research Institute, Basque Country, Spain.,Faculty of Psychology, University of the Basque Country, San Sebastian, Spain
| | - Matias Torrent
- Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona, Spain.,Menorca Health Area, Balearic Health Service (ib-salut), Menorca, Spain
| | - Jürgen Wittsiepe
- Department of Hygiene, Social and Environmental Medicine, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Eva Govarts
- Unit Environmental Risk and Health, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Mol, Belgium
| | - Tomas Trnovec
- Faculty of Public Health, Department of Environmental Medicine, Slovak Medical University, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | | | - Gunnar Toft
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Martine Vrijheid
- Spanish Consortium for Research on Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Barcelona, Spain.,ISGlobal, Center for Research in Environmental Epidemiology, Barcelona, Spain.,Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Nina Iszatt
- Department of Environmental Exposure and Epidemiology, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Merete Eggesbø
- Department of Environmental Exposure and Epidemiology, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
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10
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Grgić M, Maletić S, Beljin J, Isakovski MK, Rončević S, Tubić A, Agbaba J. Lindane and hexachlorobenzene sequestration and detoxification in contaminated sediment amended with carbon-rich sorbents. CHEMOSPHERE 2019; 220:1033-1040. [PMID: 33395789 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2019.01.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2018] [Revised: 12/28/2018] [Accepted: 01/02/2019] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Sediment represents a sink for toxic and persistent chemicals such as hexachlorobenzene (HCB) and lindane (γ-HCH). This paper investigates the possibility of reducing the risks associated with the presence of these pollutants in sediments by amending the sediment with carbon-rich materials (activated carbon (AC) and humus (HC)) to sequester the contaminants and render them biologically unavailable. The effects of the dose and contact time between the sediment and the carbon-rich amendments on the effectiveness of the detoxification are estimated. Four doses of carbon-rich amendments (0.5-10%) and four equilibration contact times (14-180 days) were investigated. Results have shown that the bioavailable fraction of γ-HCH and HCB decreased significantly in comparison to the unamended sediment. Regarding the AC amendments, almost 100% for both compounds; and for HC amendments around 95% for γ-HCH, and 75% for HCB. Aging caused further reductions in the bioavailable fraction, compared to the untreated sediment. Phytotoxicity tests showed that Zea mays accumulated significantly higher amount of γ-HCH and HCB from unamended sediment, comparing to Cucurbita pepo and Lactuca sativa. Toxicity of HC and AC amended sediment assessed by Vibrio fischeri luminescence inhibition test and by measuring Zea mays germination and biomass yield was significantly reduced in the amended sediment samples. γ-HCH and HCB accumulation in the Zea mays biomass in the unamended sediment were a significantly higher than in the all HC and AC amended sediment. Both sorbents show potential to be used as remediation agents for organically contaminated sediment, but AC exhibited the better performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marko Grgić
- University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Sciences, Trg Dositeja Obradovića 3, 21000, Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - Snežana Maletić
- University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Sciences, Trg Dositeja Obradovića 3, 21000, Novi Sad, Serbia.
| | - Jelena Beljin
- University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Sciences, Trg Dositeja Obradovića 3, 21000, Novi Sad, Serbia
| | | | - Srđan Rončević
- University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Sciences, Trg Dositeja Obradovića 3, 21000, Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - Aleksandra Tubić
- University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Sciences, Trg Dositeja Obradovića 3, 21000, Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - Jasmina Agbaba
- University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Sciences, Trg Dositeja Obradovića 3, 21000, Novi Sad, Serbia
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11
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Lenters V, Iszatt N, Forns J, Čechová E, Kočan A, Legler J, Leonards P, Stigum H, Eggesbø M. Early-life exposure to persistent organic pollutants (OCPs, PBDEs, PCBs, PFASs) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: A multi-pollutant analysis of a Norwegian birth cohort. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2019; 125:33-42. [PMID: 30703609 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2019.01.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 116] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2018] [Revised: 11/20/2018] [Accepted: 01/07/2019] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Numerous ubiquitous environmental chemicals are established or suspected neurotoxicants, and infants are exposed to a mixture of these during the critical period of brain maturation. However, evidence for associations with the risk of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is sparse. We investigated early-life chemical exposures in relation to ADHD. METHODS We used a birth cohort of 2606 Norwegian mother-child pairs enrolled 2002-2009 (HUMIS), and studied a subset of 1199 pairs oversampled for child neurodevelopmental outcomes. Concentrations of 27 persistent organic pollutants (14 polychlorinated biphenyls, 5 organochlorine pesticides, 6 brominated flame retardants, and 2 perfluoroalkyl substances) were measured in breast milk, reflecting the child's early-life exposures. We estimated postnatal exposures in the first 2 years of life using a pharmacokinetic model. Fifty-five children had a clinical diagnosis of ADHD (hyperkinetic disorder) by 2016, at a median age of 13 years. We used elastic net penalized logistic regression models to identify associations while adjusting for co-exposure confounding, and subsequently used multivariable logistic regression models to obtain effect estimates for the selected exposures. RESULTS Breast milk concentrations of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and β‑hexachlorocyclohexane (β-HCH) were associated with increased odds of ADHD: odds ratio (OR) = 1.77, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.16, 2.72 and OR = 1.75, 95% CI: 1.22, 2.53, per interquartile range increase in ln-transformed concentrations, respectively. Stronger associations were observed among girls than boys for PFOS (pinteraction = 0.025). p,p'‑Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (p,p'-DDT) levels were associated with lower odds of ADHD (OR = 0.64, 95% CI: 0.42, 0.97). Hexachlorobenzene (HCB) had a non-linear association with ADHD, with increasing risk in the low-level exposure range that switched to a decreasing risk at concentrations above 8 ng/g lipid. Postnatal exposures showed similar results, whereas effect estimates for other chemicals were weaker and imprecise. CONCLUSIONS In a multi-pollutant analysis of four classes of chemicals, early-life exposure to β-HCH and PFOS was associated with increased risk of ADHD, with suggestion of sex-specific effects for PFOS. The unexpected inverse associations between p,p'-DDT and higher HCB levels and ADHD could be due to live birth bias; alternatively, results may be due to chance findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Virissa Lenters
- Department of Environmental Exposure and Epidemiology, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, P.O. Box 222 Skøyen, 0213 Oslo, Norway.
| | - Nina Iszatt
- Department of Environmental Exposure and Epidemiology, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, P.O. Box 222 Skøyen, 0213 Oslo, Norway.
| | - Joan Forns
- Department of Environmental Exposure and Epidemiology, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, P.O. Box 222 Skøyen, 0213 Oslo, Norway.
| | - Eliška Čechová
- Research Centre for Toxic Compounds in the Environment, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kamenice; 753/5, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic.
| | - Anton Kočan
- Research Centre for Toxic Compounds in the Environment, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kamenice; 753/5, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic.
| | - Juliette Legler
- Institute for Environmental Studies, VU University Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1087, 1081 HV Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
| | - Pim Leonards
- Institute for Environmental Studies, VU University Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1087, 1081 HV Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
| | - Hein Stigum
- Department of Non-Communicable Diseases, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, P.O. Box 222 Skøyen, 0213 Oslo, Norway.
| | - Merete Eggesbø
- Department of Environmental Exposure and Epidemiology, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, P.O. Box 222 Skøyen, 0213 Oslo, Norway.
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12
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Sergeyev O, Burns JS, Williams PL, Korrick SA, Lee MM, Revich B, Hauser R. The association of peripubertal serum concentrations of organochlorine chemicals and blood lead with growth and pubertal development in a longitudinal cohort of boys: a review of published results from the Russian Children's Study. REVIEWS ON ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH 2017; 32:83-92. [PMID: 28231067 PMCID: PMC5536108 DOI: 10.1515/reveh-2016-0052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2016] [Accepted: 01/23/2017] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Organochlorine chemicals and lead are environmental exposures that have endocrine disrupting properties (EDCs) which interfere with many aspects of hormone action. Childhood and adolescence are windows of susceptibility for adverse health effects of EDCs. Our ongoing study, the Russian Children's Study (RCS), is one of the few longitudinal studies investigating the impact of EDCs on growth and puberty in boys. It is conducted in the historically contaminated city of Chapaevsk, in the Samara region. The study focuses on evaluating the associations of persistent organochlorine chemicals and lead with growth and pubertal timing. At enrollment in 2003-2005, we collected blood from 516 boys at ages 8-9 years to measure dioxins, furans, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), chlorinated pesticides and lead. At enrollment and at annual visits through the ages of 18-19 years, a physician performed physical examinations that included pubertal staging and testicular volume measurements. We review the history of Chapaevsk as a research site and summarize published RCS data on the association of peripubertal serum concentrations of organochlorines and blood lead levels with growth, pubertal onset and sexual maturity. Overall, we found that persistent organochlorines and lead negatively affected growth during puberty. Our results also suggest that total toxic equivalents (TEQs), dioxin-like compounds, organochlorine pesticides and lead may delay, while nondioxin-like-PCBs may advance, the timing of male puberty. These findings promoted remediation programs in Chapaevsk, with improvement in health indicators, resulting in Chapaevsk being designated a member of the World Health Organization (WHO) network "Healthy Cities" in 2015.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oleg Sergeyev
- Department of Genomics and Human Genetics Vavilov Institute of General Genetics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
- Chapaevsk Medical Association, Chapaevsk, Samara Region, Russia
| | - Jane S. Burns
- Environmental and Occupational Medicine and Epidemiology Program, Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, USA
| | - Paige L. Williams
- Departments of Biostatistics, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Susan A. Korrick
- Environmental and Occupational Medicine and Epidemiology Program, Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, USA
- Channing Division of Network Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Mary M. Lee
- Pediatric Endocrine Division, Departments of Pediatrics, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
- Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Boris Revich
- Institute for Forecasting, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Russ Hauser
- Environmental and Occupational Medicine and Epidemiology Program, Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, USA
- Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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